It's a fashion magazine for your humble abode, with all the trappings of the best of them.

Out of 202 pages in the recent May/June 2001 issue, 160 were devoted to ads from the likes of Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Stylish photo spreads abound, depicting the late 20th century tenement of "less is more." Accessory pages are filled with pillows, faucets and curtains that your house must have. Couches and tables pose for pictures with a sexy and sleek attitude on the style pages, letting you know that they are in and you are definitely not.

Like Vogue, Bazaar and In Style's effect on women, this magazine is guaranteed to lower the self-esteem of your home. Every page practically screams Get thee to a Pottery Barn!

What is Metropolitan Home good for?

If you're just beginning to decorate your house and you need ideas for what style you are interested in, feel free to peruse this magazine for the style of modern living. Metropolitan Home's target audience seems to be a relatively young, affluent, urbanite who relishes modern art and is probably a devotee of Frank Lloyd Wright. The flavors of more traditional living, full of over-sized couches, floral patterns, canopied beds and antiques are not to be found here.

If you are seeking to renovate, Metropolitan Home will help in that regards, slightly. They often do issues about renovations, such as the most recent issue, and many houses that they prize are ones that have been renovated, albeit with $50,000-a-pop-decorators at the helm.

This magazine also includes interesting advice columns from Dr. Swatch and Ask David, who respectively answer questions about the authenticity of antiques and provides how-to solutions for renovation troubles. But in general, the articles are not helpful at all. A recent article on Barcelona (of all places), was filled with addresses and phone numbers for hotels and restaurants, and didn't even bother to at least smooth it over with a little ambiance writing.

I get this magazine for free from my mom's boss. Although it has beautiful photos that compliment the beauty of the homes they cover, those photos can be found easily elsewhere. I wouldn't divvy up $3.50 on the newsstand for them. Its rival, House Beautiful, is a much worthier magazine that covers a wide spectrum of styles with articles that are not merely fillers in between listings of famous decorators and popular restaurants.


Recommended: No